Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ANKLE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

New Jersey low contact stress total ankle replacement: biomechanical rationale and review of 23 cementless cases.

A congruent contact, unconstrained, multiaxial ankle replacement has been developed for use without cement. A talar onlay component with a trochlear surface and central fixation fin uses a cylindrical articulating axis that reproduces the lateral talar curvature. A tibial inlay component with a 7 degree anteriorly inclined short fixation stem uses a flat loading plate, recessed anatomically into the distal tibia to distribute tibial loads to the ankle joint. For both components, made of cast cobalt-chromium-molybdenum, a 275-micron pore-size, sintered-bead, porous coating is used to allow tissue ingrowth stabilization. A congruent ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene bearing is inserted between the metallic implants. Its upper surface is flat, whereas its lower surface conforms to the trochlear surface, thereby providing unconstrained, sliding cylindrical motion with low contact stress on the bearing surfaces. Contact pressure and collateral ligaments maintain ankle stability during both static and dynamic loading conditions. Clinically, 23 total ankle arthroplasties were performed in 21 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 24 months to 64 months with a mean of 35.3 months. Diagnoses included rheumatoid arthritis, 6 patients (26.1%); osteoarthritis, 4 patients (17.4%); post-traumatic arthritis, 10 patients (43.5%); avascular necrosis of the talus, 2 patients (8.7%), and painful ankle fusion, 1 patient (4.3%). Pain was the primary reason for surgery in all cases. Postoperatively, 87% of ankles had no pain or, at most, mild pain. Postoperative complications included poor wound healing in four ankles, reflex sympathetic dystrophy in two ankles, deep infection in one ankle, and one bearing subluxation. No ankle replacements were removed and no fusions were performed for failed implants, although one bearing was exchanged without disrupting the metallic elements. In this report, the suggestion is made that total ankle arthroplasty may have an improved application in various arthritis disorders when used with biologic fixation and unconstrained mobile bearings.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of ankle sprains treated with an orthosis.

This is a prospective clinical study of treatment of ankle sprains with an ankle brace that permits ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of 20 degrees, but limits inversion and eversion for 6 weeks. The ankle brace is followed by physiotherapy for another 6 weeks. Thirty patients were evaluated with clinical examination and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before treatment and after 12 weeks of treatment. MR imaging revealed acute tears in the anterior talofibular ligament in all 30 ankles (100%) and tears in the calcaneofibular ligament in 25 of 30 ankles (83%). At 12 weeks after injury, MR evidence of healing was present for the anterior talofibular ligament in 22 of 30 ankles (73%) and for the calcaneofibular ligament in 23 of 25 ankles (92%). Postural sway analysis after therapy was used to quantify functional stability of the ankle. There was no correlation with MR findings, but there was a correlation with the subjective impression of functional instability. Twenty-eight of 30 patients (93%) had a functionally stable ankle after 12 weeks of treatment. MR findings after ankle sprain could not predict clinical outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Long-term results following ankle arthrodesis for post-traumatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Ankle arthrodesis is considered by many to be the standard operative treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis; however, the long-term effect of ankle arthrodesis on other lower-extremity joints remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical and radiographic review to determine the effect of ankle arthrodesis on the development of osteoarthritis in other lower-extremity joints. METHODS: Twenty-three patients who had had an isolated ankle arthrodesis for the treatment of painful posttraumatic arthritis of the ankle were followed for a mean of twenty-two years (range, twelve to forty-four years) after the operation. Each completed standardized, self-reported outcome questionnaires (the Foot Function Index, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC], and Short Form-36 [SF-36]), was examined clinically by two of the investigators, and underwent complete radiographic examination of the knee, ankle, and foot bilaterally. The radiographic grade of osteoarthritis was determined for each joint, and the levels of overall activity limitation, pain, and disability were determined for each patient from the clinical findings and questionnaire information. RESULTS: Osteoarthritis of the ipsilateral subtalar (p<0.0001), talonavicular (p<0.0001), calcaneocuboid (p<0.0001), naviculocuneiform (p = 0.0012), tarsometatarsal (p = 0.0009), and first metatarsophalangeal joints (p = 0.0012) was consistently more severe than the osteoarthritis of those joints on the contralateral side. Osteoarthritis did not develop more frequently in the ipsilateral knee or lesser metatarsophalangeal joints than it did on the contralateral side. Significant differences between the two sides were found with regard to overall activity limitation (p<0.0001), pain (p<0.0001), and disability (p<0.0001), with the involved side consistently more symptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the present series represents the longest follow-up study of ankle arthrodesis to date. Our cohort of patients all had isolated post-traumatic ankle arthritis, and each underwent a successful isolated ankle arthrodesis. At a mean of twenty-two years, the majority of the patients had substantial, and accelerated, arthritic changes in the ipsilateral foot but not the knee. They were often limited functionally by foot pain. Although ankle arthrodesis may provide good early relief of pain, it is associated with premature deterioration of other joints of the foot and eventual arthritis, pain, and dysfunction.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

A biomechanical analysis of donor-site ankle instability following free fibular graft harvest.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies concerning the free fibular graft have focused on the high prevalence of donor-site morbidity. The prevalence of ankle pain has been reported to range from 10% to 40%, but its etiology is unclear. The literature is vague with regard to the amount of distal fibular bone that is needed to maintain ankle stability. The aim of the present study was to determine the percentage of the fibula that can be removed while still preserving ankle stability. METHODS: Eleven fresh, paired cadaveric legs were tested. One leg from each pair was tested with the foot mounted in three positions (neutral, 15 degrees of inversion, and 15 degrees of eversion) while an external and internal rotational torque and axial load were imposed. Each specimen was also mounted in a Telos apparatus, and a varus load was applied across the ankle. Each specimen was tested first with an intact fibula to establish baseline stability and then underwent sequential fibular resections, from proximal to distal, until ankle instability was encountered. The contralateral specimen from each pair was then used to evaluate repetitive loading of a stable distal fibular segment over 2000 cycles. RESULTS: Only 10% of the fibula was needed distally to maintain ankle stability. Once the residual fibular length was <10% of the total fibular length, a significant change in motion was seen in the ankle joint (p < 0.05). On visual inspection, a residual fibular length of 10% represented a fibular osteotomy just proximal to the syndesmotic ligaments. The greatest motion occurred with the ankle inverted and in external rotation. No significant change in ankle stability occurred during cyclic testing when the residual fibular length was 10% of the total fibular length. CONCLUSIONS: While previous reports in the literature have suggested that 6 to 8 cm of residual distal fibular length is needed to maintain ankle stability, our data support the possibility that ankle stability can be maintained with even less residual fibular length.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Contribution of articular surface geometry to ankle stabilization.

BACKGROUND: Passive ankle stability under weight-bearing conditions has been found to depend substantially on the role of the articular surface geometry. In the present study, it was hypothesized that, in the ankle under axial loading, contact-stress changes in response to alterations of external load involve reproducible and specific patterns to maintain ankle stability. METHODS: Six cadaver ankles with the peri-ankle ligaments intact were tested. Each specimen, held at several predetermined ankle positions under a primary one-body-weight axial force, was subjected to an additional secondary load. The secondary load-specifically, anterior/posterior shear force, inversion/eversion torque, or internal/external rotation torque-was applied independently, while motion associated with the two other secondary loading directions was unconstrained. Contact stress in the tibiotalar articulation was monitored by a real-time contact-stress sensor. Site-specific stress changes solely due to secondary loading at each load/position were identified by subtraction of the corresponding axial-force-only baseline distribution. The role of these stress changes in ankle stabilization was studied for each specimen by analyzing the data with a computer model of ankle geometry. RESULTS: In the cadaver experiment, anterior and posterior shear forces caused reproducible positive changes in articular contact stresses on the anterior and posterior regions, respectively. Similar changes with version torques occurred on the medial and lateral regions. Positive changes with internal/external rotation torques occurred at two diagonal locations: anterolateral and posteromedial, or anteromedial and posterolateral. In the model analysis, these stress-change patterns were found to be effective in ankle stabilization, and the levels of contribution by the articular surface were calculated as accounting for approximately 70% of anterior/posterior stability, 50% of version stability, and 30% of internal/external rotation stability. CONCLUSIONS: The documented changes in contact stress illustrate the major role of articular geometry in passive ankle stabilization. The levels of contribution by the articular surface that we calculated are consistent with those reported in the literature. These findings support the conceptual mechanism of ankle stabilization by redistribution of articular contact stress.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Impact of comorbidities on the measurement of health in patients with ankle osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Investigators seeking to understand the impact of musculoskeletal disorders commonly use validated outcome instruments to assess the effect of diseases on physical function and quality of life. However, the influence of concomitant systemic or musculoskeletal comorbidities on these scores has not been widely considered in orthopaedic research. The purpose of this study was to determine how morbidity unrelated to the ankle influences the perception of physical function and pain by patients with ankle osteoarthritis. METHODS: Short Form-36 (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) pain scale scores, demographic data, and systemic and musculoskeletal comorbidities were determined prospectively for 195 patients with ankle osteoarthritis and ninety-five age and gender-matched controls. The effect of systemic and musculoskeletal comorbidities on each of the scores was determined. RESULTS: On the average, patients with ankle osteoarthritis had a relatively normal MCS score (47 +/- 13 points) and a markedly diminished PCS score (32 +/- 8 points). Both of these scores averaged 50 +/- 9 points in the control group. The AOS pain score averaged 61 +/- 23 points in the group with ankle osteoarthritis, whereas it averaged 10 +/- 15 points in the control group. We found the perception of ankle pain by patients with ankle osteoarthritis to be significantly and linearly associated with the number of other musculoskeletal problems (not related to the foot or ankle). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of physical impairment associated with ankle osteoarthritis, as measured with the SF-36, is equivalent to that reported to be associated with severely disabling medical problems including end-stage kidney disease and congestive heart failure. The perception of ankle health status as measured with a validated, patient-oriented, anatomically specific instrument is influenced by the patients' perception of their overall musculoskeletal comorbidity status. The authors of clinical studies using these instruments should adjust for concomitant musculoskeletal disease.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed2003

Prevention and treatment of ankle sprain in athletes.

The frequent nature of ankle sprains and persistent disability that often ensues has lead to considerable medical costs. As prevention of disease and injury becomes an increasingly important part of the practice of medicine today, we strive to understand and identify interventions that optimally reduce the frequency of ankle sprain and re-injury. In doing so, considerable morbidity and unnecessary medical expenditures may potentially be averted. The prophylactic use of ankle braces is fairly common. Recent critical evaluation of their effectiveness supports their use for at least 6 months following injury in athletes who have sustained a moderate or severe sprain; however, their role in primary prevention of ankle sprain is less evident. Functional ankle rehabilitation is the mainstay of acute ankle sprain treatment and in recent reviews has been deemed preferable to immobilisation or early surgery for initial treatment of acutely injured ankles. Furthermore, certain components of ankle rehabilitation, such as proprioceptive exercises, have been found to protect the joint from re-injury. Multifaceted ankle sprain prevention programmes that incorporate a variety of strategies for injury reduction are also effective in sprain prevention, although the relative importance of each component of such programmes warrants further investigation. Surgery for ankle sprain is principally reserved for patients who fail a comprehensive non-operative treatment programme and can be highly successful in treating chronic functional instability. This paper examines the current literature regarding common ankle sprain prevention strategies and provides a review of appropriate treatment schemes.

Ankle Injuries↗
PubMed2005

Prediction of outcome after ankle fracture.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective inception cohort study of 62 consecutive patients seen in 2 orthopaedic clinics following ankle fracture. OBJECTIVES: To investigate 4 putative predictors (age, fracture classification, acute management [surgical or nonsurgical], and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measured at the time of cast removal) of outcome after ankle fracture and to develop simple predictive models of outcome after ankle fracture. BACKGROUND: Ankle fracture is a common condition. However, few studies have investigated factors that predict outcome after ankle fracture. METHODS AND MEASURES: Sixty-two consecutive subjects aged 17 or older with ankle fractures were recruited from 2 hospital orthopaedic clinics. Outcome measures recorded at 6 weeks and 6 months after cast removal included 2 functional questionnaires, patients' ratings of global improvement, and a measure of ankle dorsiflexion. The predictive value of 4 variables selected a priori was analyzed using bivariate and stepwise multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Ankle dorsiflexion and fracture classification predicted outcome 6 weeks and 6 months after cast removal for all outcome measures used (P < .05, r2 = 0.09-0.47). Fracture management (surgical or nonsurgical) inconsistently predicted outcome at both 6 weeks and 6 months, and age did not predict outcome at either 6 weeks or 6 months after cast removal. The predictive models explain between 19% and 58% of the variance in outcomes 6 weeks after cast removal and 19% to 52% of the variance in outcomes 6 months after cast removal. CONCLUSION: Ankle dorsiflexion measured at the time of cast removal and fracture classification are clinically significant predictors of outcome after ankle fracture; however, much unexplained variation in outcomes still exists.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Natural history of multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis of the lower extremity and ankle.

In this study the authors evaluated the natural history of the ankle joint in patients with multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis. Thirty-eight subjects with an average age of 42 years completed a detailed subjective questionnaire and underwent clinical and radiographic evaluation of their ankles. Three subjects (8%) indicated their ankle involvement affected their vocation, and 12 (32%) were limited in recreational sports. Seven patients (18%) had pain in at least one ankle on a weekly basis, with an average ankle pain score of 2.2. Ankle range of motion averaged 50 degrees and subtalar motion was considered normal in two thirds of ankles. Radiographic evaluation documented an average tibiotalar tilt of 9 degrees of ankle valgus, with evidence of degenerative joint disease noted in 14 ankles (19%). Those with arthritic changes had significantly more tibiotalar tilt and diminished ankle range of motion compared with those without radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. These findings document measurable decreases in ankle function and suggest that correction or prevention of excessive tibiotalar tilt may be warranted to improve outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Scandinavian total ankle replacement: a 3.7-year average followup of 65 patients.

The purpose of the current prospective study was to determine the midterm results of 68 total ankle replacements with the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (S.T.A.R.) prosthesis. The 65 patients (34 women and 31 men; mean age at surgery, 56.1 years [range, 22-85 years]) were assessed clinically and radiologically after 3.7 years (range, 2.4-6.2 years). Thirty-five patients (54%) were totally pain-free. The overall clinical score was graded as excellent or good in 67 ankles. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot score improved from 24.7 points (range, 3-44 points) preoperatively to 84.3 points (range, 44-100 points) at followup. Three patients (three ankles, 4.4%) had a ballooning bone lysis on the tibial side. Despite prophylaxis, periarticular hypertrophic bone formation was seen in 43 ankles (63%; 42 patients), associated with a decrease of dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. Nine ankles (13%; nine patients) had revision surgery because of problems with the components and 14 ankles (21%; 14 patients) had secondary or additional operations. All revision or secondary surgeries were successful, and no ankle had to be converted to an ankle arthrodesis. The early experience with the S.T.A.R. ankle implant is encouraging, although we have encountered more complications and potential problems than previously reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Ankle arthrodesis.

As a fused ankle provides a painless ankle joint with limited functional disability, ankle arthrodesis is still the treatment of choice for most disabling ankle arthritis. From January 1987 to December 1990, 45 cases of ankle arthrodesis were performed, including 27 male and 18 female patients, aged from 18 to 70 years with an average of 41.9 years. The causes leading to arthrodesis included 19 cases of post-traumatic arthritis, 3 rheumatoid arthritis, 7 osteoarthritis, 9 ankle infections (4 pyogenic and 5 tuberculosis), 4 ankle deformities, 2 avascular necrosis of the talus and 1 cases of Charcot joint. The methods included modified Blair's ankle arthrodesis (34 cases), compression arthrodesis (7 cases) either by Hoffman external fixation or triangular compression device, and intra articular arthrodesis by staple fixation (4 cases). The follow up period ranged from 17 Ms to 52 Ms with an average of 28.6 Ms. There were 2 cases who ultimately required amputation due to uncontrollable infection, and 2 cases of nonunion and one of them received refusion. There were 11 cases of delayed union (union time more than 6 Ms). The average union time was 5.6 Ms, ranging from 2 Ms to 10 Ms. Excluding the cases of amputation and nonunion, all patients had improvement in the ankle functional scale evaluation and 85.3% of the patients were satisfied with their present condition. The modified Blair's method of ankle arthrodesis has proven to be an effective method for treating ankle arthritis no matter what the cause. However, for cases of infection, compression arthrodesis with an external fixational device is superior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Total ankle replacement: preliminary report of 3 cases.

Total Ankle Replacement has been quite limited used currently and ankle arthrodesis is still the treatment of choice for most disabling arthritic disease of the ankle because of the generally poor long term results of ankle replacement. In spite of its popularity, ankle arthrodesis has many disadvantages, including long immobilization, high pseudoarthrosis rate, and load shift with increased stress on the neighboring joints of ankle. Total ankle replacement may be tried on some selected cases, such as on older patients or on patients with bilateral ankle lesions, multiple joints involved arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis etc. This paper reports three ankle replacements with a two year follow up, and they all have encouraging short term results. In the future, the development of a more effective ankle replacement seems to be likely. But at the present time, only carefully choosing the available prosthesis and strictly selecting the indicated patient can make the total ankle replacement acceptable.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Total ankle arthroplasty: a unique design. Two to twelve-year follow-up.

We evaluated the intermediate-term results of a novel total ankle arthroplasty that includes insertion of the components without cement and arthrodesis of the tibiofibular syndesmosis as part of the operative procedure. One hundred consecutive Agility ankle replacements were performed in ninety-five patients between 1984 and 1993. At the time of follow-up, eighty-three patients (eighty-six ankles) were alive and twelve patients (fourteen ankles) had died. Five (6 per cent) of the eighty-six ankles in the living patients had been revised. Including the components that had been revised for loosening, twenty-one (twelve tibial and nine talar) components had migrated. Delayed union of the syndesmosis (twenty-eight ankles) and non-union of the syndesmosis (nine ankles) were associated with the development of lysis around the tibial component. Non-union of the syndesmosis was also associated with migration of the tibial component and circumferential radiolucency around that component. In addition to the patients who died, one patient had a resection of the implant with subsequent arthrodesis. The remaining eighty-two patients (eighty-five ankles) were the basis for the clinical evaluation in the study. The average age at the time of the procedure was sixty-three years (range, twenty-seven to eighty-one years). At the time of the most recent follow-up (range, 2.8 to 12.3 years; average, 4.8 years), forty-seven (55 per cent) of the remaining eighty-five ankles were not painful and twenty-four (28 per cent) were only mildly painful. The range of motion of the fifty-six ankles that were examined at the time of follow-up averaged 36 degrees (range, 10 to 64 degrees), and the results for seventy-nine (93 per cent) of the eighty-five ankles were satisfactory to the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Adaptive changes in locomotor activity following botulinum toxin injection in ankle extensor muscles of cats.

The present study investigated the adaptations made in motor behavior following a temporary reduction in ankle extensor activity in the walking cat. Temporary muscle weakness was induced by injecting botulinum toxin into the lateral gastrocnemius (LG), plantaris (PL), and soleus (SOL) muscles, or SOL alone. The medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle was not injected. Adaptations in the level of muscle activity were recorded using chronically implanted electromyographic (EMG) electrodes. Serial recordings were made prior to botulinum toxin injections and for several days following the injections. Kinematic analysis of ankle joint movements was made from video records to assess the impact of the botulinum toxin injections on the function of the ankle joint during walking. Following injection of the LG, PL, and SOL muscles with botulinum toxin, the amplitude of the MG burst increased over a period of a few days to a week. This increase was similar to the previously reported changes produced in MG following transection of the nerves serving LG, PL, and SOL. Following the weakening of the ankle extensor muscles, there was a temporary deficit in ankle function during walking as evidenced by a marked increase in the amount of ankle flexion that occurred at stance onset. This functional deficit recovered relatively quickly and was not associated with a return of the EMG pattern to the preinjection pattern. After recovery from the initial injections, a second injection of botulinum toxin into SOL alone was performed. No functional deficits were observed in the ankle movements during walking following this second injection. However, weakening SOL produced increases in the burst amplitudes of the MG, LG, and PL muscles over a period of a few days. This suggests that normal movements at the ankle during walking can be generated with more than one pattern of ankle extensor activity and that there is flexibility in how the necessary torque is produced. A final procedure, transection of the nerves serving LG, PL, and SOL, failed to produce any functional deficits in ankle movements. The implication is that adaptations to the neural control of ankle extensor activity that were induced by the initial procedure persisted after the recovery of the injected muscles and were sufficient to compensate for the subsequent challenges.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1995

Prophylactic ankle bracing vs. taping: effects on functional performance in female basketball players.

Ankle support devices are commonly used for prevention and treatment of ankle injury, but the effect of these on sport performance has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different ankle support devices on four basketball-related performance tests. Eleven female basketball players underwent four performance tests (vertical jump, jump shot, sprint drill, and submaximal treadmill run) while wearing five different types of ankle support on both ankles (no support, tape, Swede-O-Universal, Active Ankle, and Aircast). Ankle support effect on overall performance was assessed using Friedman's analysis of variance (ANOVA) by ranks and on specific performance parameters using one-way ANOVA for repeated measures. Overall performance was impaired by ankle support. The Active Ankle brace impaired performance the least out of the support devices. Vertical jump was less with ankle tape as compared with no tape (p < .05), whereas jump shot accuracy was better with tape as compared with the Swede-O-Universal (p < .05). Oxygen consumption (VO2) and energy expenditure were higher with the Aircast as compared with tape (p < .05). It was concluded that the use of ankle support by female basketball players does adversely affect basketball-related performance tests, and the prophylactic benefit of bracing needs to be weighed against performance impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Predictive Factors for Lateral Ankle Sprains: A Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the prospective studies of ankle-ligament-injury risk factors. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE from 1978 to 2001 using the terms ankle, ligament, injury, risk factor, and epidemiology. DATA SYNTHESIS: The results included many studies on the treatment and prevention of ankle injuries. There were, however, very few prospective studies focusing on identifying the risk factors that predispose an athlete to ankle-ligament trauma. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: There is some agreement among authors with regard to the risk factors for ankle-ligament injury; however, considerable controversy remains. Although female athletes are at significantly greater risk of suffering a serious knee sprain, such as disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament, this does not appear to be the case for ankle-ligament sprains. Therefore, sex does not appear to be a risk factor for suffering an ankle-ligament sprain. Athletes who have suffered a previous sprain have a decreased risk of reinjury if a brace is worn, and the consensus is that generalized joint laxity and anatomical foot type are not risk factors for ankle sprains. However, the literature is divided with regard to whether or not height, weight, limb dominance, ankle-joint laxity, anatomical alignment, muscle strength, muscle-reaction time, and postural sway are risk factors for ankle sprains. Future research is needed on this topic to develop a consensus on all ankle-injury risk factors. This will allow future intervention studies to be designed that will reduce the incidence and severity of this common injury.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Factors Contributing to Chronic Ankle Instability: A Strength Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the concept of dynamic ankle stability and closely critique the relevant research over the past 50+ years focusing on strength as it relates to those with chronic ankle instability (CAI). DATA SOURCES: We reviewed the literature regarding the assessment of strength related to CAI. We searched MEDLINE and ISI Web of Science from 1950 through 2001 using the key words functional ankle instability, chronic ankle instability, strength, ankle stability, chronic ankle dysfunction, and isokinetics. DATA SYNTHESIS: An overview of dynamic stability in the ankle is established, followed by a comprehensive discussion involving the variables used to assess ankle strength. Additionally, a historical look at deficits in muscular stability leading to CAI is provided, and a compilation of numerous contemporary approaches examining strength as it relates to CAI is presented. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Although strength is an important consideration during ankle rehabilitation, deficits in ankle strength are not highly correlated with CAI. More contemporary approaches involving the examination of reciprocal muscle-group ratios as a measure of strength have recently been investigated and offer an insightful, albeit different, avenue for future exploration. Evidence pertaining to the effects of strength training on those afflicted with CAI is lacking, including what, if any, implication strength training has on the various measures of ankle strength.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Rehabilitation of the Ankle After Acute Sprain or Chronic Instability.

OBJECTIVE: To outline rehabilitation concepts that are applicable to acute and chronic injury of the ankle, to provide evidence for current techniques used in the rehabilitation of the ankle, and to describe a functional rehabilitation program that progresses from basic to advanced, while taking into consideration empirical data from the literature and clinical practice. BACKGROUND: Important considerations in the rehabilitation of ankle injuries include controlling the acute inflammatory process, regaining full ankle range of motion, increasing muscle strength and power, and improving proprioceptive abilities. These goals can be achieved through various modalities, flexibility exercises, and progressive strength- and balance-training exercises. In this article, we discuss the deleterious effects of ankle injury on ankle-joint proprioception and muscular strength and how these variables can be quantifiably measured to follow progress through a rehabilitation program. Evidence to support the effectiveness of applying orthotics and ankle braces during the acute and subacute phases of ankle rehabilitation is provided, along with recommendations for functional rehabilitation of ankle injuries, including a structured progression of exercises. RECOMMENDATIONS: Early functional rehabilitation of the ankle should include range-of-motion exercises and isometric and isotonic strength-training exercises. In the intermediate stage of rehabilitation, a progression of proprioception-training exercises should be incorporated. Advanced rehabilitation should focus on sport-specific activities to prepare the athlete for return to competition. Although it is important to individualize each rehabilitation program, this well-structured template for ankle rehabilitation can be adapted as needed.

Journal Article↗